Finding Our Place in the Ecosystem

Neither of those people are me. Nor is it a picture of my online course! That is my brother the wildlife biologist demonstrating his peak finder to a passerby on our way from Chocorua over to the Sisters.

I started an asynchronous online graduate course in Environmental Policy today.  The reasons were varied.  However, the biggest one had to do with my questions about the role of the church in the environmental movement.  I have been a minister for a long time.  Over the years environmentalism has been a regular topic or lens for me.  I have led workshops and outdoor worship.  We have examined the topic in the context of transcendentalism and other nature theologies. 

During all this time, though, I felt myself coming up against a blind spot.  The fact is, I know a great deal about nature and spirituality.  I have tons of practical experience with human beings and how they move through the world. However, I don't know as much about the science and economics around many of the problems and issues our planet faces. 

This isn't a shock.  I am a pastor.  I live and work in a community where my role is to "walk" with people to help them make sense of their lives, the world, their relationships, and their feelings. My biggest resource--among many--is a very ancient collection of texts written by people whose philosophical and theological chops were strong but whose economic and scientific chops were...well...lacking.  This isn't a judgment of them necessarily.  They weren't destroying the planet nearly as quickly as we are, after all...

Anyway, as you know I spend a lot of time outdoors.  My hiking adventures account for most of what is on this page.  I have to say, when I am "out there" on a mountain or a local trail, I wonder how long it will be around.  I wonder about the drastic shifts in weather.  I want to know what is going on with Creation--church people use the term "Creation" frequently even though most of us are not creationists--and what I can do about it. Right now I am feeling the need to dip into a better understanding of the ecosystem and the dynamics that contribute to its health.  

Yesterday I began a sermon series on these subjects.  It is independent of the course I am taking but I am sure there will be overlap. As it currently stands I will preach a number of sermons on Sunday mornings, host a number of workshops, and set up some "Pub Theology" sessions to talk about what the church can do to help the environment.  I feel like we have a role to play that we--houses of worship regardless of faith tradition--are uniquely positioned for.  We deal with hearts and minds.  To truly save humanity, we need to re-take our place in the network of living things.  This has to start with a change in attitude and conversation. 

Anyway, I will probably drop in here to wax lyrical on this subject from time to time.  If you live in the area, check out the church newsletter.  We would love to have you as part of this conversation!

​PS This is Sunday's Sermon...